Peor

Peor was a mountain in Moab where Balak brought Balaam to curse Israel, and where the Israelites later engaged in idolatry and immorality with the Moabites.

Peor was a mountain located in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan River. It is mentioned in the context of Balak, the king of Moab, who sought to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam (Num. 23:28). Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor, hoping that from there, Balaam would be able to curse the Israelites. However, God intervened and caused Balaam to bless Israel instead (Num. 23:29-24:9).

Later, when the Israelites were camped in the plains of Moab, they began to engage in idolatry and sexual immorality with the Moabites (Num. 25:1-3). This incident became known as the "matter of Peor" (Num. 25:18; 31:16) and resulted in a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites (Num. 25:9). The Israelites' sin at Peor was remembered as a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of idolatry and foreign influences (Josh. 22:17; Ps. 106:28-29). The events at Peor highlight the importance of remaining faithful to God and resisting the temptations of surrounding pagan cultures.

A mountain peak (Num. 23:28) to which Balak led Balaam as a last effort to induce him to pronounce a curse upon Israel. When he looked on the tribes encamped in the acacia groves below him, he could not refrain from giving utterance to a remarkable benediction (24:1-9). Balak was more than ever enraged at Balaam, and bade him flee for his life. But before he went he gave expression to that wonderful prediction regarding the future of this mysterious people, whose “goodly tents” were spread out before him, and the coming of a “Star” out of Jacob and a “Sceptre” out of Israel (24:14-17).